Delegation Resource Manual: Month by Month Implementation Guide
Page
43
YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
Activity (Public Speaking): Hitting a Home Run
Hitting a Home Run – (10 minutes)
Prep: Newsprint, Markers, “Home Run Hitters/ Strike Out Suckers” Newsprint; “First Base:
Organize Your Presentation” base; “Second Base: Open Effectively” base; “Effective Openers” 1.
Sell them on listening. 2. Intro the topic. 3. Intro yo’self” newsprint; “Opener Dos and Don’ts”
newsprint; “Third Base: Keep ‘em hooked” newsprint; “Home Base: Finish with Flourish”
newsprint; Cracker Jacks.
Start off by welcoming everyone in a very dry and monotone way.
Let them know that, today, we’ll be talking about how to hit a home run when giving a speech or
making a public presentation.
How many of you have ever given a speech anywhere? Did anybody feel like they really knocked
‘em dead? Did anybody wonder if the audience really was dead?
Let’s take a few minutes and identify those people (other than yourselves!) who you think are really
convincing, powerful, or entertaining public speakers—people who make you want to listen. Chart
responses on one side of newsprint.
Now, certainly don’t name anyone we know personally, but who are some famous/public people
that you just tune out. Chart.
Refer back to home run hitters--What is that these people do that hits home with us? What are the
characteristics of their presentations that work?
Strike out suckers—why are they striking out? What is missing from their presentations?
First Base - 10 minutes
So, to find out how to be an effective public speaker, let’s start at first base. Uncover First Base
newsprint on the floor and ask group to gather round.
The first thing that we need to do to make a good public presentation is to organize our thoughts—
presenting our points in a logical, easy to follow sequence.
Let’s imagine that you are giving a speech to a local civic club like Rotary, Kiwanis or Optimists,
about the service projects that your HI-Y club has been involved in this year. Here is the list of
projects that you want to present and a quick description. Come up with several ways to organize
your speech.
Christmas Angel Tree Project for underprivileged kids at local foster home. Served 12 kids. 25
members participated. Contributed over $1,200 in gifts.
